Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a body having a storage room, an ice making chamber formed separately from the storage room, and a thermoelectric-module provided in the ice making chamber to generate cold air. The thermoelectric-module does not require a cold air duct to cool the ice making chamber. As a result, space utilization is improved and a capacity of the refrigerator is improved. In addition, energy efficiency may be enhanced because a heater is not required to remove the frost from a cold air duct.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2008-0116143, fled in Korea on Nov. 21, 2008, the entirety of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A refrigerator is provided. More particularly, a refrigerator isprovided that includes an ice making chamber provided at a door thereof.

2. Background

Refrigerators are electric appliances capable of cooling or freezingstorage items using cold air generated by a phase-change of arefrigerant, or a working fluid. Such a refrigerator may include a bodyhaving refrigerator and freezer compartments capable of keeping fooditems at low temperatures, and refrigerator compartment and freezercompartment doors rotatably coupled to the body to open and close frontopenings of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, respectively. Therefrigerator and freezer compartments of the refrigerator may be cooledby various components which together circulate the refrigerant through arefrigerating/freezing cycle. Reducing or eliminating frost generated bythe refrigerating/freezing cycle may improve refrigerant flow andcooling efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator, as embodiedand broadly described herein;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a panel and an ice makerprovided in the exemplary refrigerator shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connection between the panel and theice maker shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

In reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an exemplary refrigerator as embodied andbroadly described herein may include a body 12 that defines an exteriorappearance of the refrigerator 10. A storage room may be formed in thebody 12 to receive food items. The storage room may include arefrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment (notshown) that are partitioned by a barrier (not shown) and a partitionwall (not shown). In certain embodiments, the refrigerator compartmentmay be provided in an upper portion of the body 12 and the freezercompartment may be provided in a lower portion of the body 12, as shownin FIG. 1. Other arrangements may also be appropriate.

The refrigerator may also include a compressor that compresses a lowtemperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant to output a hightemperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant, a condenser that cools andcondenses the high temperature/pressure refrigerant transmitted by thecompressor, using external air, a valve that controls the flow of coldair having passed through the condenser, a capillary tube thatdecompresses and discharges the high pressure liquid refrigerant havingsequentially passed through the condenser and the valve, and anevaporator that evaporates the refrigerant drawn from the capillary tubeat a low pressure into a low temperature refrigerant to absorb thegenerated heat.

One or more doors 14 may be coupled to the body 12. In certainembodiments, the doors 14 may include first and second doors 16 and 18that selectively open and close separate sides of the refrigeratorcompartment, and a third door 22 that selectively opens and closes thefreezer compartment, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. Simply for easeof discussion, the first, second and third doors 16, 18 and 22 may bereferred to collectively as the door 14. It is well understood that thefeatures to be described may be applied to any one of the first, secondor third doors 16, 18 and 22.

An inner space 16′ may be formed in the first door 16. The inner space16′ may have an opening that faces the inside of the refrigeratorcompartment. The inner space 16′ may be selectively opened and closedwith respect to the inside of the refrigerator compartment by a panel 40which will be described later. An ice maker 50, which will be describedlater, may be installed in the inner space 16′ such that the inner space16′ forms an ice making chamber. That is, the inner space 16′ and theice making chamber may refer to substantially the same space, for easeof discussion. In alternative embodiments, the inner space 16′ may beformed in the second door 18 or the third door 22, based on theparticular arrangement of the compartments. By extension, the innerspace 16′ may be formed in various positions within the refrigerator 10as long as an independent ice making chamber is able to be formed.

The first and second door 16 and 18 may rotatably open and close therefrigerator compartment, without any interference. Specifically,predetermined sides of the first and second doors 16 and 18 may becoupled to hinge parts 20 provided at edges of a front of the body 12,such that the first and second doors 16 and 18 may rotate about thehinge parts 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the third door 22 mayslide forward and rearward along a slide rail to open and close thefreezer compartment. A handle 24 may be provided at each of the first,second and third doors 16, 18 and 22 to provide a grasping surface. Adispenser 26 may be provided in one of the doors 14, and in particular,at one of the first, second or third doors 16, 18 and 22. The dispenser26 allows ice, beverages or other items which are stored inside the door14 to be dispensed outside the door 14. For ease of discussion, thedispenser 26 shown in this embodiment is provided at the second door 18so as to not interfere with the inner space 16′ of the first door 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the panel 40 may be provided at an interior side ofthe first door 16, and may be plate-shaped, corresponding to the shapeof the inner space 16′ so as to cover the opening into the inner space16′. A first side of the panel 40 may be rotatably coupled to the firstdoor 16 and a second, opposite side of the panel 40 may rotate about thefirst side so as to selectively open and close the inner space 16′ ofthe first door 16. The panel 40 may partition off the inner space 16′from the refrigerator compartment. Thus, in certain embodiments, thepanel 40 may be made of material having good heat-insulation properties.

An opening 42 may be formed in the panel 40 to provide for theinstallation of a thermoelectric-module 44 and the ice maker 50. Thethermoelectric-module 44 may be provided at the opening 42. Thethermoelectric-module 44 may be plate-shaped, corresponding to theappearance of the opening 42. Specifically, at least onethermoelectric-module 44 may be provided at the opening 42, with a firstsurface of the thermoelectric-module 44 positioned facing the innerspace 16′ and a second, opposite surface of the thermoelectric-module 44positioned facing the inside of the refrigerator compartment. A heatabsorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44 may be positionedfacing the inner space 16′ so as to absorb heat, and a heat radiationpart 44 b of the thermoelectric-module 44 may be positioned facing therefrigerator compartment so as to radiate the heat absorbed at the heatabsorption part 44 a. The thermoelectric-module 44 may be insertedbetween a cold block 46 and a heat sink 70, both of which will bedescribed later. A power supply unit (not shown) may be connected withthe thermoelectric-module 44.

The thermoelectric-module 44 may employ a Peltier effect, in that a DCvoltage may be applied to two different kinds of metals which arecombined to generate endothermic and exothermic phenomena. Thethermoelectric-module 44 may be formed of an extrinsic semiconductor,such as, for example, germanium, silicon, lead telluride, bismuthtelluride, indium arsenic (InAs), or others as appropriate.

The cold block 46 may be positioned inside the panel 40, that is, in theinner space 16′ of the first door 16. The cold block 46 may be attachedto the heat absorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44. As theheat absorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44 gets cold, thecold block 46 may transmit the cold air to the inner space 16′.

The ice maker 50 may be provided in the inner space 16′, and may beconnected with the cold block 46. Here, the ice maker 50 may make ice ina heat-insulated space formed by the inner space 16′ using watersupplied by a water supply part 53. The ice maker 50 may be directlyconnected with the heat absorption part 44 a of thethermoelectric-module 44 to receive the cold air, and not directlyconnected with the cold block 46.

The ice maker 50 may include an ice tray 52 and a control box 56. Icemay be made from water held in the ice tray 52 and subjected to coldair. In certain embodiments, the ice tray 52 may be approximatelysemi-cylindrical shaped. A plurality of ribs may project upward from aninner portion of the ice tray 52, spaced apart from each other apredetermined distance, so as to separate the ice into separate pieces.In addition, a heater (not shown) may be provided, for example, underthe ice tray 52, to heat the surface of the ice tray 52 for a relativelyshort time period, such that a surface of the ice attached to thesurface of the ice tray 52 may be melted enough to be separatedsmoothly. The water supply part 53 may be provided at a predeterminedportion of the ice tray 52 to supply water to the tray 52 for makingice.

A transfer plate 54 may be provided at the ice tray 52. A first surfaceof the cold bock 46 may closely contact the thermoelectric-module 44,and a second surface of the cold block 46 may closely contact thetransfer plate 54. Thus, an appearance of the transfer plate 54 maycorrespond to the appearance of the cold block 46. In alternativeembodiments, if the transfer plate 54 is directly connected with thethermoelectric-module 44, the appearance of the transfer plate 54 maycorrespond to the appearance of the thermoelectric-module 44. Thetransfer plate 54 may be formed integrally with the ice tray 52. Thetransfer plate 54 may receive cold air from the thermoelectric-module 44directly or through the cold box 46 from the thermoelectric-module 44and convey the cold air to the ice tray 52 in order to cool the ice tray52. Thus, the transfer plate 54 may be formed of metal material havinghigh heat conductivity.

The control box 56 may be provided in the ice tray 52, at a portion ofthe ice tray 52 opposite to where the water supply part 53 is provided,as shown in FIGS. 2-3, or other location as appropriate. The control box56 controls operation of the ice maker 50. A motor (not shown) may beprovided in the control box 56 and an ejector (not shown) may berotatably connected with a rotation shaft of the motor. A rotation shaftof the ejector may extend across a center of the ice tray 52, and aplurality of ejector pins (not shown) may be spaced apart apredetermined distance along the rotation shaft of the ejector. Forexample, each of the ejector pins may be arranged in a correspondingspace which is partitioned off by the ribs.

The control box 56 may include an ice amount sensing arm 58 that sensesan amount of ice collected in an ice bank (not shown) provided beneaththe ice tray 52. The ice amount sensing arm 58 may be movable verticallyupward and downward, and may be connected with a controller mounted inthe control box 56. The ice maker 50 may determine whether additionalice will be made according to the operation, and in particular, aposition, of the ice amount sensing part 58 and the controller.

A fan 60 may be installed in the inner space 16′ of the first door 16.The fan 60 may circulate cold air inside the inner space 16′. In thisembodiment, the fan 60 is provided at a side of the control box 56. Thefan 60 may face an upper or lower portion of the ice tray 52 to improveice making speed. That is, the fan 60 may increase the amount of coldair in contact with the ice tray 52, thus increasing the cooling speedof the ice tray 52.

The heat sink 70 may be provided at the surface of thethermoelectric-module 44 facing the refrigerator compartment. The heatsink 70 may expand a heat radiation area of the thermoelectric-module44, and may be positioned opposite the cold block 46. That is, the heatsink 70 may be installed toward the refrigerator compartment and closelycontact the heat radiation part 44 b of the thermoelectric-module 44. Asa result, the heat sink 70 may absorb heat generated from thethermoelectric-module 44 and discharge the absorbed heat into therefrigerator compartment. That is, as the heat sink 70 is exposed to theinside of the refrigerator compartment, the heat sink 70 is cooled andthe heat radiation part 44 b of the thermoelectric-module 44 is cooledrelatively fast. As a result, if the cooling period of thethermoelectric-module 44 is reduced, the cooling efficiency of thethermoelectric-module 44 may be improved.

A cooling fan 80 may be installed at a surface of the panel 40 whichfaces the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The cooling fan 80 mayface the surface of the thermoelectric-module 44 or the surface of theheat sink 70 that faces the refrigerator compartment. The cooling fan 80may be directly installed at the thermoelectric-module 44 or the heatsink 70. The cooling fan 80 may blow cold air of the refrigeratorcompartment onto the thermoelectric-module 44 or the heat sink 70 toincrease the heat radiation capacity of the heat sink 70.

In certain embodiments, heat conductive material 45 may be coatedbetween respective mating surfaces of the transfer plate 54, the coldblock 46, the thermoelectric-module 44 and the heat sink 70. The heatconductive material may expand respective contact areas between thesecomponents to maximize a heat conduction effect. The heat conductivematerial may be, for example, thermal grease, thermal powder, or othermaterial as appropriate.

The cold block 46 may be secured to the heat sink 70 by a securingmember 47 that passes through the transfer plate 54 and the cold block46 sequentially. Alternatively, the securing member 47 may pass throughthe panel 40 to directly secure the cold block 46 and the heat sink 70to the panel 40.

Next, an operation of the refrigerator having the above configurationwill be described.

First, the thermoelectric-module 44 and the ice maker 50 are installedon the panel 40. The panel 40 is then installed on an interior side ofthe door 16 to selectively open and close the opening into the innerspace 16′ of the first door 16. That is, the inner space 16′ is formedby the first door 16 and the panel 40. As a result, the inner space 16′is separated from the refrigerator compartment and forms the ice makingchamber.

The at least one thermoelectric-module 44 is attached to a first surfaceof the cold block 46 and the transfer plate 54 is attached to a secondsurface of the cold block 46 opposite the first surface. The heat sink70 is attached to a surface of the thermoelectric-module 44 opposite thecold block 46. At this time, the cold block 46 closely contacts the heatabsorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44 and the heat sink70 closely contacts the heat radiation part 44 b of thethermoelectric-module 44, thus forming heat transfer means. As mentionedabove, heat conductive material is coated between the transfer plate 54and the cold block 46 before they are attached to each other.

The securing member is then passed through the transfer plate 54, thecold block 46 and the panel 40 sequentially, to be secured to the heatsink 70. The securing member is tightly fastened to the heat sink 70 sothat the thermoelectric-module 44 may be securely inserted between thecold block 46 and the heat sink 70. FIG. 3 illustrates the ice maker 50and the thermoelectric-module 44 secured to the panel 40. The fan 60 isinstalled in/on the control box 56 and the cooling fan 80 is installedat the heat sink 70 to control the flow of cold air in the inner space16′.

Next, a process will be described in which the ice maker 50 and thethermoelectric-module 44 are operated.

If power is applied to the thermoelectric-module 44, the ice tray 52having been filled up with water by the water supply part 53, the heatabsorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44 absorbs heat andthe heat radiation part 44 b radiates the absorbed heat. That is, theheat absorption part 44 a of the thermoelectric-module 44 absorbs theheat of the transfer plate 54 through the cold block 46. As the surfaceof the cold block 46 gets cold, the cold air is transferred to thetransfer plate 54 and next to the ice tray 52. Then, as the ice tray 52is cooled, the ice making process is performed in the ice maker 50.

At this time, the heat sink 70 absorbs the heat generated from the heatradiation part 44 b of the thermoelectric-module 44 and radiates heatinto the refrigerator compartment. Then, the cooling fan 80 installed atthe heat sink 70 blows cold air from the refrigerator compartment ontothe thermoelectric-module 44 and the heat sink 70 to improve the coolingefficiency of the thermoelectric-module 44.

As the heat radiation part 44 b of the thermoelectric-module 44 radiatesheat quickly, the operation of the heat absorption part 44 a may beperformed smoothly. As a result, if the heat radiation part 44 b of thethermoelectric-module 44 is cooled by the cold air of the refrigeratorcompartment, the speed of the heat absorption performed at the heatabsorption part 44 a may be increased, and thus the cooling efficiencyof the thermoelectric-module 44 may be improved.

If the cooling system of the thermoelectric-module 44 is applied to theinner space 16′ which forms the ice making chamber as described above, aseparate cold air duct that transfers cold air does not have to beprovided in the door. As a result, a refrigerator as embodied andbroadly described herein may have a simple structure, and a capacity ofthe refrigerator may be increased by the volume of the cold air ductwhich is no longer required. In addition, the thermoelectric-module 44does not generate frost, and thus cooling efficiency may be improved.

The ice making chamber having a thermoelectric-module 44 as embodied andbroadly described herein may form a cooling space, separated from therefrigerator and freezer compartments. As a result, even if a failure ofthe operation of one of the compartments of the refrigerator occurs, theice making chamber may be operated independently.

Embodiments as broadly described herein may be applicable to athree-door bottom freezer type refrigerator in which refrigerator andfreezer compartments are provided vertically, with two doors coupled toright and left sides of the refrigerator compartment, to a two-doorbottom freezer type refrigerator having two doors coupled to therefrigerator and freezer compartments, respectively, to a top mount typerefrigerator having the refrigerator and freezer compartments providedvertically, and to a side by side type refrigerator having therefrigerator and freezer compartments provided next to each other.

In accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein, athermoelectric-module requiring no cold air ducts, having a simplestructure, may be used to cool an ice making chamber. As a result,utilization of space may be improved and a capacity of the refrigeratormay be improved. In addition, energy efficiency may be enhanced becausea heater is not required to remove frost from the cold air duct.

Furthermore, in embodiments as broadly described herein, it may bepossible to operate a thermoelectric-module fast and there is anadvantage of improved cooling efficiency, because the heat radiationpart of the thermoelectric-module is cooled by the cold air of therefrigerator compartment. Still further, the ice making chamber may beformed at a variety of positions because the ice making chamber hasindependent cooling by using the thermoelectric-module separated fromthe refrigerator and freezer compartments.

A freezing cycle of a refrigerator may include, for example, acompressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. Thecompressor compresses low temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant intoa high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant. The condenser condensesthe refrigerant drawn from the compressor, using external air. Theexpansion valve may have a relatively narrow diameter so as to expandthe refrigerant drawn from the condenser. The evaporator absorbs heatgenerated while the refrigerant which has passed through the expansionvalve is evaporated at a low pressure.

Refrigerators may be categorized into top mount types and side by sidetypes. In the top mount type, a refrigerator or freezer compartment ismounted one on top of the other, and refrigerator and freezer doors arerespectively coupled to the compartments to open and close thecompartments. In the side by side type, the refrigerator and freezercompartments are provided side by side, with refrigerator and freezercompartment doors rotatably coupled to two opposite sides of therefrigerator to respectively open and close the compartments.

Various kinds of convenience devices, such as, for example, a home baror dispenser that allows items received in an interior side of the doorto be withdrawn without opening the doors.

Refrigerators may also include an ice making chamber in the refrigeratoror freezer compartment to make ice. Cold air generated in a cold airgeneration chamber may be moved into the ice making chamber via a coldair duct. However, in some circumstances, cold air having differenttemperatures may be mixed, thus generating frost at an outlet of thecold air duct that is in communication with the ice making chamber.Frost generated at an inner circumferential surface of the cold air ductmay deteriorate refrigerant flow and thus cooling efficiency.

A refrigerator is provided.

A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may be capableof supplying cold air to an ice making chamber using athermoelectric-module.

A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may be capableof cooling a heat absorption part of the thermoelectric-modulesubstantially fast.

A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may include abody having a storage room; an ice making chamber formed separately fromthe storage room; and a thermoelectric-module provided in the ice makingchamber to generate cold air.

The refrigerator may also include a door rotatably coupled to the body,the door having the ice making chamber.

The refrigerator may also include a panel rotatably coupled to the doorto open and close the ice making chamber selectively.

The refrigerator may also include an ice maker provided in the panel tomake or eject ice inside the ice making chamber.

The thermoelectric-module may be provided in the panel to supply coldair to the ice maker and to discharge generated heat to the storage roomformed in the body.

An opening may be formed at the panel to communicate the ice makingchamber with the storage room and the thermoelectric-module may bepositioned at the opening, with a surface toward the ice making chamberand the other opposite surface toward the storage room.

The refrigerator may also include a transfer plate, corresponding to thethermoelectric-module, provided in the ice maker to receive cold airfrom the thermoelectric-module.

The refrigerator may also include a cooling fan guiding cold air insidethe storage room to the thermoelectric-module.

The refrigerator may also include a cold block having a surface in closecontact with the transfer plate and the other opposite surface in closecontact with at least one thermoelectric-module.

The refrigerator may also include a heat sink in close contact with thethermoelectric-module to expand a heat radiation area of thethermoelectric-module.

Heat conductive material may be coated between adjacent two of thetransfer plate, the cold block, the thermoelectric-module and the heatsink.

The heat conductive material may be thermal grease or thermal powder.

The thermoelectric-module may be pressed between the cold block and theheat sink.

The cold block may be secured with the heat sink by a securing memberpassing the transfer plate and the cold block and the heat sinksequentially.

The transfer plate may be integrally formed with an ice tray provided inthe ice maker.

The refrigerator may also include a fan provided in the ice makingchamber to circulate cold air.

The fan may be toward a lower portion or upper portion of the ice tray.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” certainembodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of suchphrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anyembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilledin the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic inconnection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, numerous variations andmodifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements ofthe subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure,the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations andmodifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternativeuses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a body having a storage room formedtherein; a door rotatably coupled to the body so as to selectively openand close the storage room; an ice making chamber formed in the door;and a thermoelectric module provided in the ice making chamber, whereinthe thermoelectric module decreases a temperature in a surrounding areato cool the ice making chamber.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, furthercomprising a panel rotatably coupled to an interior side of the door soas to selectively open and close the ice making chamber.
 3. Therefrigerator of claim 2, wherein the panel includes an opening formedtherein so as to provide for communication between the ice makingchamber and the storage room, wherein the thermoelectric module ispositioned in the opening, with a first surface thereof facing the icemaking chamber, and a second surface thereof opposite the first surfacefacing the storage room.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 2, furthercomprising an ice maker coupled to the panel, wherein the ice maker isconfigured to make ice and to eject the ice into the ice making chamber.5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the thermoelectric module isconfigured to cool the ice maker and to discharge heat into the storageroom.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the ice maker comprises atransfer plate coupled to the thermoelectric module such that thethermoelectric module cools the transfer plate and the transfer platecools the ice maker.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprisinga cold block having a first surface in close contact with the transferplate, and a second surface opposite the first surface in close contactwith the first surface of the thermoelectric module such that the coldblock is interposed between the transfer plate and the first surface ofthe thermoelectric module.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, furthercomprising a heat sink in close contact with the second surface of thethermoelectric module so as to expand a heat radiation area of thethermoelectric module.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, furthercomprising heat conductive material coated between adjacent surfaces ofthe transfer plate, the cold block, and thermoelectric module and theheat sink.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the heat conductivematerial is a thermal grease or a thermal powder.
 11. The refrigeratorof claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric module is pressed between thecold block and the heat sink.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, whereinthe cold block is secured to the heat sink by a securing member thatsequentially passes through the transfer plate, the cold block and theheat sink.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the transfer plateis integrally formed with an ice tray of the ice maker.
 14. Therefrigerator of claim 13, further comprising a cooling fan that directscold air from the storage room toward the thermoelectric module.
 15. Therefrigerator of claim 13, further comprising a fan provided in the icemaking chamber to circulate cold air within the ice making chamber. 16.The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the fan is oriented toward a lowerportion or an upper portion of the ice tray so as to concentrate a flowof cold air onto the ice tray.
 17. A refrigerator, comprising: a bodyhaving a storage room formed therein; a door rotatably coupled to thebody, the door having an ice making chamber formed therein that isseparate from the storage room formed in the body; a panel rotatablycoupled to an interior side of the door so as to selectively open andclose the ice making chamber; and at least one thermoelectric moduleprovided in the panel, wherein the at least one thermoelectric modulehas a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface,wherein the first surface cools air in a surrounding area to cool theice making chamber, and heat generated at the second surface isdischarged into the storage room.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 17,further comprising an ice maker coupled to the panel, wherein the icemaker is configured to make ice and to eject the ice into the ice makingchamber.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 17, further comprising a coldblock that maintains close contact with a heat absorption part providedon the first surface of the thermoelectric module, and a heat sink thatmaintains close contact with a heat radiation part provided on thesecond surface of the thermoelectric module so as to expand a heatradiation are of the thermoelectric module.
 20. The refrigerator ofclaim 19, further comprising: a first fan that directs cold air from thestorage room onto the thermoelectric module; and a second fan provide inthe ice making chamber, wherein the second fan circulates cold airwithin the ice making chamber.